In New York, Quad foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to Indo-Pacific

India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken, Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong, and Japan’s new FM Yoko Kamikawa participated in a Quad ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Friday and issued a joint readout.

Following up on the Hiroshima Quad leaders’ level summit this summer, the four ministers reviewed the progress of the various initiatives unveiled under the group’s umbrella. They also expressed their “deep concern over the war raging in Ukraine” and mourned its “terrible and tragic humanitarian concerns”; called for a reformed UN Security Council; issued an impassioned plea for progress on sustainable development goals (SDGs); and outlined a common position on Myanmar and North Korea.

Jaishankar attended the Quad ministerial right after landing in New York. He tweeted, “A warm discussion with Quad colleagues to start my #UNGA78 participation. Welcomed Japanese FM Yoko Kamikawa to the meeting. Discussed defending the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific and delivering on Quad commitments. Always value our collective contribution to doing global good.”